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Gemel Smith played for the last team to beat the London Knights in a playoff series.

That was the 2011 OHL champion Owen Sound Attack.

They had Joey Hishon and Garrett Wilson up front and Jesse Blacker on the point. Back then, they needed six bitter first-round games to knock off a Knights crew featuring a good chunk of the players that form the core of this soon-to-be three-time Memorial Cup team.

Smith, now a Knight, has noticed something remarkable about his new mates. This group reminds him a lot of that old Attack team that would’ve challenged for the Cup in Mississauga if not for some unfortunate injuries during the tournament.

“We’re exactly how we were in Owen Sound that year,” said Smith, a rookie then. “That team worked hard and all the guys here work hard. You look here and (with stars Bo Horvat and Max Domi), they work hard every game and all our team feeds off them and we hope for the best.

“I know they didn’t get that Memorial Cup win (the first two times) and I’m going to try to help them as much as I can.”

Michael McCarron and Smith, two examples of the Knights incredible offensive depth, scored the first two goals of a 6-1 win in Game 1 of their playoff series against the Windsor Spitfires Friday night at Budweiser Gardens.

The third member of the line, Brett Welychka, is a noted Spitfires killer. It became apparent about a month ago this trio would be a major factor in the push toward another OHL title.

“My first year in Owen Sound, our third line was probably our best line all playoffs,” Smith said. “That was Andrew Shaw, Michael Halmo (who have played in the NHL) and Cameron Brace (who just finished his overage season in Belleville). It just shows you need those types of players if the other lines are getting shut down or other teams are focused on them.

“Hopefully, we can go out there and steer the bus.”

In the previous two seasons, the Knights have swept through the postseason first rounds.

They broomed aside these Spitfires in 2012 and knocked the Saginaw Spirit out in a hurry last year.

Smith doesn’t believe there’s much benefit to doing that.

The year his Attack beat the Knights in six, they also survived a seven-game league final against Misssissauga.

“I think that’s all in your head,” Smith said. “To me, it doesn’t matter if you finish early and sweep a team in four or have to go through a hard Game 7. You can end up being too rested or not rested enough, it depends on how your team responds.

“Obviously, we’re going to try to get a win whenever we can . . . we know any team in the league can win a game, so you can’t overlook them. You just put the pedal to the metal and go as hard as you can.”

London GM Mark Hunter looked at a lot of veteran players ahead of the OHL trade deadline. Part of the reason he ended up making a deal for Smith was his early experience of being a winner at this level.

“I think it’s pretty special,” the 19-year-old Dallas draft pick said. “I learned a lot from that (run in 2011) and it made me a better player today. It made me realize how hard you have to work (to win) and I’m glad I got that opportunity.”

There is no question these Knights are unique from the past two championship editions.

Scott Harrington, last year’s captain, was more of a mature, business-like leader. So was current Montreal Canadien Jarred Tinordi in 2012.

Chris Tierney, the current ‘C’ wearer, is more of a jokester in the room. He displayed that in the debate over playoff hair.

“There were some guys with mullets and some with faux hawks and a couple of shaved heads,” he said. “We’re letting the guys do what they want. We didn’t really do anything the last two years and this stuff is just for fun.”

They watched the Chicago Blackhawks go with the flow and win a Stanley Cup last year.

“Most of the guys who can are doing a playoff beard,” Tierney said. “I don’t know how much (rookie Mitch) Marner is going to get done by the end of the playoffs, but come Memorial Cup time, hopefully, we’ll see some big beards.

“There are a couple of guys who want to keep it clean cut and it’s up to them. There needs to be some looseness in the room at some points but other times, you need to know how to tighten it up.